Ed Willes: Lulay, the comeback kid, is willing to try it one more time

Travis Lulay says if he had a different job — lion tamer, forensic accountant, existential philosopher, anything — this wouldn’t be a big deal.

The problem is, when your profession is playing quarterback, reconstructive knee surgery is a big deal. Especially when you’re 34. The B.C. Lions pivot is now well into a rehabilitation process that is measured in months — not days — and he can’t tell you definitively what he’ll be doing when Lions’ training camp opens in May.

But he can tell you which way he’s leaning, and that’s about as much as the Lions could hope for as they plan for a new season.

“I don’t want to say I’m coming back stronger in 2018 and I don’t want to say I can’t take it any more,” Lulay says over the phone.

“But if and when the knee comes around, I’m leaning toward playing again.

Until then, it’s baby steps. Lulay reveals that, 4 1/2 months after surgery, he was able to perform a box jump this week.

“I kind of felt like an athlete there,” he says with a laugh, before adding, “I’m not afraid of the work.”

No, the fear lies elsewhere. That’s why he’s taking his time on this one.

Travis Lulay and Jonathon Jennings.

If you just joined us, Lulay is again trying to come back from a career-threatening injury — again — and trying to answer some tough questions about his future. On Sept. 8 of last season, the Montana State product tore the ACL in his right knee on the Lions’ first possession against Montreal, ending a campaign in which he’d wrestled the starter’s job away from Jonathon Jennings and seemed to be re-establishing himself as an elite CFL quarterback.

Then, it was one of the great comeback stories of the CFL season. Now, it’s another long, dark road which offers few guarantees but does promise a lot of pain.

Lulay, ever the warrior, says he’s up for one more fight. And say this for the man. He doesn’t discourage easily.

This will mark the fourth time in the last six seasons Lulay will attempt to come back from a serious injury. There have been a couple of shoulder surgeries. There was an MCL sprain in 2015 which, by his standards, seems like a hangnail. Now there’s a rebuilt knee to deal with.

Though it all, the hero of the Lions’ 2011 Grey Cup triumph has displayed a resiliency and strength of character which is admirable. But he also turned 34 the day before his latest surgery in September and he’s starting to face questions which have little to do with football and everything to do with the quality of his life.

“We’re having conversations,” says Lions GM Ed Hervey. “I think it’s probably going to be longer than anticipated, not because there’s anything delaying it. It’s more about Travis wanting to play. He’s working that out.

“When you have multiple injuries and you start to think about life after football. I don’t think he’s given any indication he’s planning to retire but, during our conversation, it appeared that thought had crossed his mind.”

Then again, it had to.

Lulay admits that six weeks ago, his outlook was different. Shortly after the surgery, where his patella tendon was used to created a new ACL, infection appeared around the knee joint and he was back in the hospital. As late as December, the signs of progress were limited but, in January, the knee started to respond.

Six weeks later, he’s encouraged. Still, the normal recovery period for Lulay’s surgery is nine months and it can take up to a year.

Nine months will take Lulay to June. Lions training camp begins in late May and ends on June 14. And, yes, he’s done the math.

“I’m over the sleepless nights,” he says. “Now it’s a question of how the knee will respond. That’s the missing piece of the puzzle. I know that sounds vague, but that’s the way it is.”

B.C. Lions quarterback Travis Lulay.DARRYL DYCK /
THE CANADIAN PRESS

The Lions, meanwhile, are willing to wait on Lulay and there’s a number of reasons they’re exercising patience with their oft-injured quarterback. For starters, Lulay has immense value as a mentor and sounding board for Jennings, who’ll be entering just his third full year as starter.

“It’s almost like having another coach out there,” says Jarious Jackson, the Lions’ new offensive co-ordinator.

Lulay also provides the Lions with a viable option at the game’s most important position. Prior to his injury last season, he’d averaged an astonishing 380 passing yards per game in his five-plus outings and held the highest rating among all CFL quarterbacks. The plain fact is the Lions’ offence was its most productive when Lulay was at the controls.

“I do,” Hervey answered simply when asked if he sees a role for Lulay on the Lions.

“If Travis plays next year, I hope it’s here. The reality is it’s more on Travis and what he wants to do.”

As it happens, the CFL’s free-agent market opens on Tuesday, which is relevant because Lulay is without a contract for next season. Hervey has had preliminary discussion’s with the quarterback’s agent, Dan Vertlieb, but negotiations won’t begin in earnest until Lulay is satisfied his knee will allow him to play.

He’s not there yet. But for everything he’s been through the last number of years, you hope he gets that chance.

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